Abstract: Summertime weeds as Digitaria sanguinalis in many agro-ecosystems exist. In several cases, a well-defined weed control could be able to predict the seed emergence, to know the physiological status of the seeds in the soil bank, as well as, the factors that control and involving their germination. The goal of this work is to establish a relationship between the thermal properties and the process where the seeds start to be viable. In this study, a soil column device refilled with a calcareous silt loam soil was used, and two split seeds groups of Digitaria sanguinalis were buried at two height levels inside the column. The soil was monitored to determine the volumetric water content, temperature and thermal properties. Preliminary results allowed a rather complete understanding of the effect of the thermal flux on Digitaria sanguinalis seeds. The outcomes about the distribution of water content in the soil profile joint to thermal dataset allowed investigating into the variability of these properties and their relationships among them for this type of soil at laboratory scale.

Abstract: Utilization and harvesting practices of medicinal plants used by local people of Ghughri block in Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh was studied through questionnaire survey. The study resulted in the documentation of 43 medicinal plants of these 95% was used by traditional healers for curing various diseases. Tree species were used in maximum cases, followed by herbs and shrubs. Tree bark was the most used plant part for medicinal purpose, followed by root. In all studied villages, the quantities of medicinal plants collection for own consumption was higher than the quantity collected for sale. Species like Embilica officinalis, Terminalia bellirica, Aegle marmelos, Semecarpus anacardium, Buchanania lanzan, Terminalia chebula, and Syzygium cumini were mainly used by local people for own consumption and not for sale. There was almost consistency in collection of medicinal plants across the studied villages however the collection was determined by the season of species availability. Some species being rare and found in limited area was either not collected or collected by a few villagers. The findings of the study are further discussed in the sustainability perspective of medicinal plants and traditional healing systems.

Abstract: Taxonomy and medicinal uses on the family Amaranthaceae growing throughout the Rajshahi, Bangladesh was carried out during September 2011 to December 2012. A total of 14 species under 8 genera belonging to the family Amaranthaceae were collected and identified. Out of the total number of species Achyranthes aspera L., Aerva lanata (L.) Juss. ex Schult., Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb., Alternanthera sessilis (L.) R. Br. Ex Roem. & Schult., Amaranthus spinosus L., Amaranthus viridis L., Amaranthus livids L., Amaranthus tricolor L., Amaranthus blitum L., Celosia cristata L., Gomphrena globosa L. were common and Cyathula prostrata (L.) Blume., Digera muricata (L.) Mart., Gomphrena celosioedes Mart. was rare species in the study area. For each species botanical name, local name, habit, habitat, phenology, status of occurrence, chromosome number and medicinal uses have been mentioned.

Abstract: There are three variables measured for the characterization of the thermal properties in porous media and soft rocks. These are the specific variables: heat capacity, thermal conductivity and their relationship with the thermal diffusivity. Recently, Decagon Devices has developed the KD2-Pro meter. This instrument is a useful device, which permits storing more than 4000 thermal data. This company has also improved the design of sensors for their specific use. KD2-Pro uses the infinite line heat pulse technique based on current standard ASTM D 5334. Nevertheless, it is not clear how to obtain the required reliability and accuracy in the measurements since neither the standard nor manufacturer’s user manual include any method or recommendation to develop a measuring set up. Therefore, a strong methodology is required to achieve the maximum efficiency when KD2-Pro is used. This work presents ThermalHyd as the first "stadium" towards the development of a laboratory and field methodology to obtain reliability, accuracy and rapidity in the analytical dataset of thermal properties in porous media and soft rocks. To carry out the objective several soils from Llobregat river delta plain were used to obtain very acceptable results such as the wetting up samples, being the static method more accurate than dynamic one. Another results were based on the mineralogy of the samples in terms to transferred the heat pulse. Eventually, the microwave oven as a technic to obtain reliable water content dataset was a robust method, especially for its accuracy and faster performance.

Abstract: Agrochemicals are the result of modern technology that depends on inorganic fertilizers and pesticides. Over use of these chemicals have severe effects on environment that may lead to an immediate and long term effects. Investigating farmers’ awareness of agrochemicals residues and their behaviors regarding application is important in order to reduce human factors that negatively affect agricultural safety. This study focuses on a summary of both national and international studies regarding the effects of pesticide and chemical fertilizer residues on nature, as well as farmers’ awareness of these effects. This research incorporates the actual performance of farmers of Rupandehi district on the issue of agrochemicals.

Abstract: Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum herbicide used extensively worldwide to control broadleaf weeds in agriculture. Research suggests that repeated application causes a change in soil microbial properties which could be affecting soil quality and productivity. Although glyphosate is generally regarded as having relatively low environmental impact, after 10 or more years of widespread use, field observations by farmers and emerging research suggest that long-term glyphosate tolerant (GT) cropping is having cumulative and non-target effects on soils and crop productivity. There is very little information on the effects of GT residue when added to soils. Therefore, the objective was to determine shifts in the soil microbial community during GT residue decomposition in soils with and without a history of glyphosate exposure. Soybean residues from a simulated long-term GT cropping system were used in laboratory incubation. The experiment was a 2x3x4 factorial design with 2 soils (with or without glyphosate), three residue types (leaf, stem,or root), and 4 soybean residue treatments (GT residue exposed to glyphosate with potassium salt carrier, GT residue exposed to glyphosate with isopropylamine salt carrier, untreated GT genotype, and untreated non-GT genotype). These soils were profiled using phospholipid fatty acid analysis to determine shifts in soil microbial community structure due to the addition of GT residue to soil. The results showed that microbial shifts during decomposition of GT soybean residue varied between soils with or without long-term exposure to glyphosate. There was also a trend that GT material that had been exposed to glyphosate cause a differential shift in the communities over GT residue that had not been exposed to glyphosate. Commercially available glyphosate formulations have two major types of salt carriers; potassium salt and isopropylamine salt which could be a factor besides glyphosate in affecting the chemistry of GT residues and subsequently microbial response during decomposition. However, the results showed that carrier did not significantly affect PLFA profiling in soils regardless of the soil’s history of glyphosate exposure. Ratios of saturated to monounsaturated PLFAs are used as indicators of microbial stress. Our results showed that soil history of glyphosate exposure significantly affected microbial stress. There were also significant differences in stress between glyphosate residue treatments in soil with a history of glyphosate exposure.

Abstract: This study presents energy and economic analysis of the wind turbine plant’s draft for the Aksaray city. Fossil fuels are used for energy production that is giving the environmental damage and increasing the global warming. The countries utilize a renewable energy for decreasing the global warming’s impacts. The wind energy is the one of the important renewable energy. In this study, drafting 1 [MW] of the wind turbine plant was calculated energy and economic analysis for the Aksaray city. When 1 [MW] of the wind turbine plant is set up, it was calculated production of energy quantity that was found 2628000 [kWh]. Cost of the total investment was obtained 1 698312 [$] and cost of the unit electric energy was found 0.052 [$/kWh]. The wind power plant’s construction was calculated step by step that these values were found in with escalation way and without escalation way. According to these results, the units of the investment’s cost, unit of the operation’s cost, unit of the maintenance’s cost were calculated for economic analysis. In conclusion, energy and economic analysis of the wind turbine plant’s draft is the first academic study for the Aksaray city. According to the literature, building the wind energy plant between Ortaköy village and Ağaçören village can be suitable for the Aksaray city.

Abstract: The toxicity of three brands of hair shampoos (Vinoz, Gentelle and Petals) containing linear alkylbenzene sulphonates and used mostly for hair conditioning in beauty shops by woman in Nigeria were evaluated on fingerlings of the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (mean weight=6.42 ± 0.2g; length=4.03 ± 0.1 cm). Specimens were exposed to 0.50%, 0.25%, 0.125%, 0.0625%, 0.03125% and 0.00% (control) toxicant concentrations during a 96-hours static bioassay. Mortality increased with concentrations and varied with brand of shampoo used; with the 0.50% toxicant concentration and Vinoz shampoo showing highest toxicity. LC₅₀ for Vinoz, Gentelle and Petals were 0.0195%, 0.0281% and 0.0281% (arithmetic method), 0.9058%, 0.8873% and 0.8710% (logarithmic method) and 0.0172%, 0.0281% and 0.0177% (probit method) respectively. Survivorship of C. gariepinus was significantly homogeneous with Vinoz [F_(1.56)<F_crit(4.13)], heterogeneous with Gentelle [F_(4.31)>F_crit(4.13)] and heterogeneous with Petals shampoos [F_(5.57)>F_crit(4.13)] at P<0.05. The numbers of survivors in the 0.125 and 0.03125% toxicant concentrations differed significantly with those in the control (Sig. t=0.001 & 0.002 with Vinoz and =0.002 & 0.003 with Gentelle, respectively) at the 95% confidence limit. Very low mean lethal concentrations of the xenobiotics exerted high toxicities on the aquatic biota. Regulatory agencies should enforce strict laws for the protection of the national aquatic biotopes for sustainability.

Abstract: Food, nutritional and livelihood securities for human beings remain the centre point of agricultural development. Being the cash crops, at present, vegetables attract grower’s attention more than the traditional food crops. This study aims to examine the changes in traditional cropping systems of the hilly villages in Uttarakhand state of India along with commercialization of vegetables and supply chain management. Two important vegetables, pea and tomato, were studied through questionnaire survey and focus group discussions. The findings reflect that though the recent innovations in traditional farming give monetary benefits, it has ecological and environmental ramifications. The high crop diversity as maintained by farmers in the past is now replaced by a few high yielding varieties and cash crops, which is prone to various pest attacks. The continuous use of pesticides does not only affect the crop productivity but impose negative impacts on the health of entire ecosystem and soil fertility. The heavy use of pesticides needs to be avoided in view of maintaining the health of ecosystem and environment.

Abstract: The water quality of Pauri District of Uttarakhand, India has been assessed during pre- and post-monsoon seasons to express the suitability of water for drinking purposes. The values of turbidity and iron exceed the permissible limit prescribed by Indian Standards for drinking purpose. Some sites were also contaminated with large number of total and fecal coliform bacteria. Piper diagrams exhibit that all water samples fall in Ca-Mg-HCO₃ hydrochemical facies and show the nature of carbonate hardness during both seasons. Based on the seasonal variation, the concentrations of most of the parameters considerably decreased during post-monsoon season and show the dilution effect of rain water in monsoon season. Water quality index describes the suitability of all sources for drinking purpose with ‘Good’ and ‘Excellent’ water quality during pre- and post-monsoon seasons, respectively.